Reclining chair of multiple-position type



March 28, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,976,913

RECLINING CHAIR OF MULTIPLEPOSITION TYPE Filed Aug. 11, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

mvs/ March 28, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,976,913

RECLINING CHAIR OF MULTIPLE-POSITION TYPE Filed Aug. 11, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. FQ/OTJOF SCH; li /{A Ck BY V@ March 28, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,976,913

RECLINING CHAIR OF MULTIPLE-POSITION TYPE Filed Aug. 11, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5.

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RECLINING CHAIR OF MULTIPLE-POSITION TYPE Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz Filed Aug. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 832,975

8 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) The present invention relates to improvements in reclining chairs and in particular to an improved reclining chair of the multiple position type wherein a seat and backrest unit is arranged to be brought to two distinct body-supporting positions.

In two position reclining chairs, the body-supporting unit, consisting of a rigidly-formed seat and back-rest, is mounted on a support frame for rearward tilting movement through a first motion phase to an active intermediate tilted position, and then to an inactive fully tilted position. In the active intermediate position, the body-supporting unit is only slightly tilted and the occupants body is still substantially upright and in a position to read, view television, or the like. In the inactive, fully-tilted position, the body-supporting unit is more severely tilted so that it supports the occupants body in a more recumbent position for greater relaxation.

Reclining chairs of this type also include a leg-rest which is movably mounted and controlled by actuating means in such a manner that the leg-rest is moved from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended, legsupporting position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit from its upright sitting position to its intermediate tilted position. This requires the leg-rest actuating means to produce a long movement of the leg-rest in response to a relatively short tilting movement of the body-supporting unit.

When the body-supporting unit is moved through a second phase of motion from the intermediate tilted position to the fully-tilted position, it is essential that the legrest remain in its leg-supporting position. This presents a problem in the construction of the leg-rest actuating means and requires that the rapid actuation of the legrest be interrupted during the second motion phase. It is with this problem that the invention herein is concerned.

It is an object of the present invention to provide legrest actuating means for advancing the leg-rest rapidly to an extended leg-supporting position when the bodysupporting unit is moved to the intermediate tilted position and for maintaining the leg-rest in its extended position with no further relative movement between the seat and leg-rest when the body-supporting unit is then advanced to its fully-tilted position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of leg-rest actuating means of the character described which is adapted to work in conjunction with a body-supporting unit which has a simple pivoting movement relative to the support frame during the first motion phase.

A further object of the invention is the provision of leg-rest actuating means of the character described which is simple in construction and operation with a minimum of movable parts, so as to be economical in manufacture.

In accordance with the invention there is provided in a reclining chair having a support frame and a bodysupporting unit, a carrier member pivotally mounted on the support frame. The body-supporting unit is pivotally 2,976,913 latented Mar. 28, 1961 mounted on the carrier member for movement from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted position, the carrier member being then movable on the support frame and carrying the body-supporting unit from the intermediate tilted position to an extended position. A

leg-rest actuating means is movably mounted between thev seat and the carrier member by means of a pin and slot connection, for movement of the leg-rest to an extended leg-supporting position when the body-supporting unit is tilted relative to the carrier member. 1

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating one form of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in an upright sitting position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. l, but showing the chair in its intermediate tilted position with the leg-rest extended in its leg-supporting position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, but showing the chair in its fully-tilted position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in Fig. 4, with the chair shown in its intermediate tilted position; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 4, but showing the chair thereof in its fully-tilted position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1-3, the reclining chair shown therein comprises a base or support frame designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and having spaced side walls 12 inter-connected by cross bars or braces 14, 16 and 18. The chair also includes a body-supporting unit, designated by the reference numeral 20, and comprising a seat 22 and a back-rest 24 formed rigidly with each other. The body-supporting unit 20 is movably mounted on the support frame 10 for movement relative thereto from the upright sitting position of Fig. 1 to the active intermediate tilted position of Fig. 2, and then to an inactive fully-tilted positionshown in Fig. 3. The mounting of the body-supporting unit 20 on the support frame 10 is made through a carrier member or support bar, designated by the reference numeral 26..

The carrier member is formed with a rear leg 28 and an upwardly-extending front leg 30. At its rear end, the rear leg 28 is mounted by pivot 32 on the support frame 10. The seat 22 has a depending, rigidly-mounted bracket 34 which is mounted on the rear leg 28 of the carrier member 26 by a pivot 36.

The chair also includes a leg-rest 40 which is carried by a rigidly affixed bar 42, the latter being mounted by pivot 44 on the forward portion of the seat 22. The bar 42 has an integral extension 46 which extends beyond the pivotal mount 44 and is disposed at an angle of approximately with the axis of bar 42. The extension 46 contains an elongated slot 48. A pin 50, affixed to the free end of the carrier member front leg 30, extends slidably within the slot 48'.

In the upright sitting position of the chair shown in Fig. l, the carrier member 26 rests upon the cross bar 14 to provide a rigid support for the body-supporting unit 20. The bar extension 46 extends horizontally rearward from the seat pivot 44, and the leg-rest 40 is in a retracted position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the seat 22. The pin 50 is located at the upper end of the slot 48, that is, the end of slot 48 adjacent the free end of extension 46.

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest .24, the body-supporting unit 26 tilts rearwardly about the pivotal mount 36 on the carrier member 3t) until it reaches its intermediate tilted position of ig. '2. This first phase of motion is a simple pivoting movement about pivot 36, and theintermediate tilted position of the body-suPPQrting unit is determined by engage ment of the rear lower surface of the seat 22 with a stop member 52 immovably carried by the carrier member 26. During this first motion phase, the carrier member 26 is immovable, its forward end remaining resting on the cross-bar 14.

As the forward end portion of the seat 22 moves upwardly and rearwardly, it carries with it the pivotal connection 44 of the leg-rest bar 4-2. It Will be appreciated that the pivot 44 thus moves in an arc, the radius of which is the distance between said pivot 44 and the pivotal mount 36 of the seat 22 on the carrier member 26. Since this distance is greater than the distance between the pin 50 and pivot 36, the pin 50 exerts a restraining force on the slot 48 and causes the bar extension 46 to pivot downwardly. The bar 42, therefore, turns around the seat pivot 44 and the leg-rest is raised to its extended position of Fig. 2 wherein it is positioned to support the legs of the chair occupant. In this position, the pin 50 has moved to the opposite end of slot 48.

It will be observed that in the active or intermediate tilted position of Fig. 2, the body-supporting unit 2% is only slightly tilted and the occupants body is supported in a substantially upright attitude suitable for reading, viewing television, or the like. At the same time the legrest 40 is fully extended and properly positioned tosupport the outstretched legs of the occupant.

if the occupant of the chair, in the intermediate tilted positionof Fig. 2, wishes to assume a more reclined position for greater relaxation, he need only apply further reaiward pressure against the back-rest 24, to bring the body-supporting unit to the fully-tilted position of Fig. 3. The rearward shift of the occupants weight changes the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causes the carrier member 26 to turn in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, about the pivotal mount 32. The forward end of the carrier member 26 is therefore raised relative to the support frame lltl. Since the body-supporting unit 20 is now rigidly coupled to the carrier member 26 by engagement of the seat 22 with the stop member 52, the body-supporting unit is carried by the carrier member 26 and turns about the fixed pivot 32 to the fully reclined position shown in Fig. 3. This position is determined and limited by engagement of the rear portion of the seat 20 with the rear cross bar 18.

Since the body-supporting unit 20 is rigidly coupled with the carrier member 26 by engagement of the seat 22 with the stop member-52, there is no relative movement of the body-supporting unit and carrier member during this second phase of movement from the intermediate tilted position of Fig. 2 to the fully-tilted position of Fig. 3. The leg-rest is therefore maintained in the extended position when the body-supporting unit arrives at the fully-tilted position.

To return from the fully-tilted position to the intermediate tilted position, it is only necessary for the occupant to shift his weight forwardly, thereby moving forward the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit 2i) and causing the latter to turn forwardly about the pivot 32 until it again reaches the intermediate tilted position to the upright sitting position, the occupant need merely apply downward pressure on the leg-rest dd, this pressure causing the body-supporting unit Zil to move forwardly about its pivotal mount 36 on the carrier member Referring now specifically to Figs. 46, there is shown a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of legrest actuating means made in accordance with the invention. Similar parts are given like reference numerals, except in this instance the numerals are part of a series.

The reclining chair illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 again comprises a base or support frame designated generally by the reference numeral 110, which includes spaced side walls 112 inter-connected by cross bars or braces 114, 116 and 118. The chair again includes a body-supporting unit, designated generally by the reference numeral 120, and comprising a seat 122 and a back-rest 124 formed rigidly with each other. The body-supporting unit is movably mounted on the support frame 116 for movement relative thereto from the upright sitting position of Fig. 4 to the active intermediate tilted position of Fig. 5, and then to the inactive fully-tilted position shown in Fig. 6.

The chair also includes a carrier member or support bar, designated generally by the reference numeral 126, which has a rear leg 128 and an upwardly-extending front leg 130. At its rear end, the rear leg 123 is mounted by pivot 132 on the support frame 110. The seat 122 has 2. depending bracket 134 which is mounted by pivot 136 on the carrier member rear leg 128.

The chair also includes a leg-rest 140 carried by a bar 142 which is mounted by pivot 144 on the forward end of the seat 122. The leg-rest actuating linkage also includes a lever 160 mounted intermediate its ends by pivot 162 on thefront leg 130 of the carrier member 126. One end of lever 16% is connected by pivot 164 to a link 166, the other end of which is connected to an intermediate point on the'leg-rest bar 142 by pivot 168. The other end of the lever 160 contains an elongated slot 148. A pin 159, mountedon the seat 122, extends slidably within the slot 148.

In the upright sitting position of the chair, shown in Fig. 4, the carrier member 126 rests upon the cross-bar 114 to provide a rigid support for the body-supporting unit 129. The seat 122 is maintained in a level position and is prevented from pivoting forwardly by engagement of its pin in the slot lid-8. The leg-rest 143i? is in a retracted position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the seat T122. The arm of lever containing the slot 148 extends forwardly and the pin 150 is in the rear end of said slot. The other arm of the lever 160 extends downwardly and reanvardly from pivot 162. The lever 160 engages a stop plate on the carrier member 126 to prevent turning of said lever.

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 124, the body-supporting unit 120 turns rearwardly about its pivotal mount 136 on the carrier member 126 to the intermediate tilted position of Fig. 5. This intermediate tilted position is determined by the engagement of the lower surface of seat 122 with a stop plate 152 on the rear end portion of the carrier member rear leg 128, so that in the intermediate tilted position the body-supporting unit 126 is rigidly coupled to the carrier member 326.

As the body-supporting unit 120 is pivoted rearwardly to its intermediate tilted position, the pin 150 is also moved in an are about the pivotal mount 136 and exerts a pulling force on the slot 148, thereby causing the lever 160 to turn in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. This movement of lever 160 moves the link it?! forwardly, which in turn causes the leg-rest bar 142 to turn forwardly and-upwardly about its seat pivot 144, thereby raising the leg-rest 140 to its extended leg-sup porting position of Fig. 5.

In the active or intermediate tilted position of Fig. 5, the body-supporting unit 120 is only slightly tilted and the occupants body is supported in a substantially upright attitude suitable for reading, viewing television, or the like. At the same time the leg-rest 140 is fully extended and properly positioned to support the out-. stretched legs of the occupant.

Further rearward pressure against the back-rest 124 5. brings the body-supporting unit 120 to the fully-tilted position shown in Fig. 6. The rearward shift of the occupants weight changes the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causes the carrier member 126 to turn about the pivotal mount 132. .The forwardend of the carrier member 130 is therefore raised relative to the support frame 110, and since the body-supporting unit 120 is now rigidly coupled to the carrier member 125,'said body-supporting unit isturned with the carrier member rearwardly about the fixed pivot 132 to the fully reclined position which is determined by engagement of the rear portion of the seat 122 with the rear cross bar 118.

During movement of the unit 120 from the intermediate tilted position to the. fully tilted position, there is no relative movement of the pin 150 and carrier memoer 126. The leg-rest 140 is therefore held immovable in its extended position during this second phase of motion and is maintained in leg-supporting position'at the fully-tilted position of the body-supporting unit.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious thatnumerous additions, changes and omissions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, I

What I claim is: I

1. In a multiple position reclining chair having a supactuating means for moving the leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the .seat in response to movementof the bodysupporting unit during said first motion phase, said actuating means including an extension of said bar projecting rearwardly from the pivotal mount of said bar on said seat, and a pin-and-slot connection coupling said extension to said carrier member.

.5. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a carrier member pivotally mounted on the support frame, and a body-supporting unit including a. rigidly-formed seat and back-rest pivotally mounted on the carrier member for rearward tilting movement relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase, the

carrier member and body-supporting unit being then pivotable on the support frame during a second motion I phase; a leg-rest, a bar carrying the leg-rest and pivotally actuating means for moving the leg-rest from a retracted port frame, a carrier unit movably mounted .on the support frame, and a body-supporting unit including a rigidly-formed seat and back-rest mounted on the carrier unit for rearward movement relative to the carrier unit during a first motion phase, the carrier unit and body-supporting unit being then movable relative to the support frame during a second motion phase, a leg-rest structure including a leg-rest swingably mounted on the forward end portion of the seat, and leg-rest actuating means for moving the leg-restfrom a retracted position beneath'thev seat to an extended position forwardly oftheseat in response to-movement of the body-supporting'unit during said first motion phase, saidvactuatingmeans including a member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on one of said units, said member havinga first arm dependmounted onvt'he forward portion of the seat, and leg-rest position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit during said first motion phase, said actuating means including an extension of, said bar projecting rearwardly from the pivotal mount of said bar on said seat, an elongated slot in said extension and extending axially thereof, and a pin on the forward end of said carrier member in sliding engagement with said slot. p

6. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a carrier member pivotally mounted on the support frame, and a body-supporting unit including a rigidly-formed seat and back-rest pivotally mounted on the carrier member for rearward tilting movement relative to thecarrier member during a first motion phase,

- pivotally mounted on the forward portion of the seat, and Y ing from its pivotal mount on said one unit and a second said member is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the seat and said pin-and-slot connection couples the second arm to the carrier unit.

' 3. A leg-rest structure according'to. claim 1 in which said member is pivotally mountedintermediate its ends on the carrier unit and said pin-and-slot connection I, couples the second arm to the forward end portion of the seat.

4. In a multiple position reclining chair having a supto said bar, and a pin-and-slot connection coupling the pivotal'lmount of said bar on said seat.

port frame, a carrier member pivotally mounted on therigidly-formed seat .and back-rest pivotally mounted on the carrier member during a firstmotion phase, the carrier member and body-supporting unit being then pivota able on the support frame'during a second motion phase;

a leg-rest, a bar carrying the leg-rest and pivotally mounted on the forward portion of the scan-"and leg-rest support frame, and a body-supporting unit including va the carrier member being then pivotable ,rearwardly on the support frame to carry the body-supporting unit rearwardly during a second motion phase;a leg-rest assembly comprising a leg-rest, a bar carrying the leg-rest and leg-rest actuating means for moving the leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the'seat .to an extended position forwardly of the seat inresponse to movement of the; body-supporting unit during said first motion phase,

said actuating means including a double-armed lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the forward end of the carrier member, saidlever having a first arm" 1 depending from its, pivotal mount on the carrier mem-..

her and a second arm projecting in a forward direction from said pivotal mount, a link connecting the first arm second arm to the seat.

7. A leg-rest assembly according to claim 6 in which 7 said pin-and-slot connection is located 'rearwardly of the 8; A leg-rest assembly according to claim,6 in said pin-and-slot connection comprises an elongated slot in said second arm and extending axially thereof, and a pin carried by the seat and slidably engaging said slot.

' 1 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 607,293 vStreit July 12, 1898 1 2,615,497 Luekhardt Oct. 28, 1952 2,746,520 I Ducrot May 22, .1956

2,764,224 Maurer Sept. 25, 1956.

which w 

